General Question

How do I remove pen stains from a leather wallet?

I must have had an open pen in my purse because I have some lines now on my leather wallet. Anyone have any experience removing ink from leather? It’s not the kind of pen that leaks – it’s one of those cheap disposable pens, like a bic pen.

7 Answers

I had some luck getting pen stains out on my leather couch with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser. Go very slow as to not discolor or stress the leather. Make sure you have some leather conditioner to help retain the pliability to the area you work. A mink oil or a more liquid conditioner should work best.
I removed it from is glove soft tan Italian leather Natuzzi couch, so I am not sure if that compares to your wallet material.

“Isopropyl alcohol, plain old rubbing alcohol, works best for home removal of ink stains from leather. Fresh ink stains are easier to remove and usually come out easily, while older stains may require repeat treatments. Leather is porous and the stain can penetrate deep into the hide.

Begin by dampening a white cotton cloth or cotton swab with the alcohol. Don’t use a colored cloth because it can transfer dye to light colored leather. Work from the outside of the stain toward the middle by dabbing with the cloth. Keep the work area small – do not spread the ink into a bigger area!

You should be able to see the ink transfer to the cloth. Dampen a clean area of the cloth or get a new swab as you see ink coming off to prevent re-staining the garment. Gently, keep blotting away until the ink is gone. Do not scrub harshly as that can remove color and a layer of the leather.

Allow the garment [wallet] to air dry after or between treatments. Once the ink is removed, treat garment with leather conditioner to help it remain supple and smooth.”